Length Factors in Healthcare Surveys

The length of a feedback survey plays a critical role in its completion rates. A survey that’s too long risks causing fatigue, abandonment, or incomplete responses, while a survey that’s too short may fail to capture the depth of feedback needed to improve healthcare services. 

Understanding and managing length factors will help strike the right balance between gathering sufficient data and maintaining respondent engagement.

What are length factors?

Length factors refer to all the elements of a survey that contribute to its overall duration and complexity. For healthcare feedback surveys, length factors must be carefully managed to accommodate patients’ varying states of health, energy, and attention.

Number of questions

The most obvious factor, a high number of questions increases the time required to complete the survey, risking respondent fatigue.

Insider tip: Limit the survey to essential questions that align with your feedback goals. Use optional questions for less critical information.

Question complexity

Complex questions — such as open-ended text or ranking questions — require more thought and effort from respondents, increasing survey length.

Insider tip: Balance complex questions with simpler formats (e.g., multiple-choice or yes/no) to maintain engagement without sacrificing depth.

Survey flow and logic

Poorly structured surveys with confusing or repetitive questions can frustrate respondents and extend completion time unnecessarily.

Insider tip: Use clear and logical progression between sections. Features like show/hide logic can streamline the experience.

Question type distribution

Surveys heavy on open-ended questions or multi-select options tend to take longer than those with straightforward formats like Likert scales or binary responses.

Insider tip: Combine question types strategically, using open-ended questions sparingly to add depth without overloading the survey.

Target audience characteristics

Different patient demographics may have varying tolerances for survey length: e.g., older patients or those in post-treatment recovery may find long surveys more taxing.

Insider tip: Tailor survey length to your audience, considering factors like age, health status, and digital literacy.

Clarity of questions and instructions

Confusing questions or unclear instructions can cause respondents to spend more time understanding what’s being asked, increasing completion time.

Insider tip: Use concise, straightforward language and provide examples or context where necessary.

Optional vs. mandatory questions

Requiring answers to all questions can frustrate respondents and lead to higher dropout rates, especially for longer surveys.

Insider tip: Clearly differentiate between mandatory and optional questions, prioritizing the most critical data points.

What (not) to do?

Here is a quick list of dos and don’ts for managing length factors:

• Prioritize key questions: Focus on essential questions that align directly with your survey goals. Less critical questions can be moved to optional sections.
• Test your survey: Conduct a pilot test with a small group to gauge completion time and identify areas for streamlining.
• Use progress indicators: Including a visible progress bar can reassure respondents and reduce abandonment rates by giving them a sense of how much is left.‍
• Don’t use redundant questions: Avoid asking the same or similar questions in multiple ways, as this can frustrate respondents and add unnecessary length.‍
• Don’t overload on open-ended questions: While valuable, too many open-ended questions can lead to fatigue. Use them strategically for deeper insights.‍
• Don’t ignore completion rates: Monitor completion rates closely. If they drop significantly at certain points, reassess those sections for length or complexity issues.

The takeaway

Effective healthcare feedback surveys must strike a balance between depth and engagement. A thoughtful design must include the elements that contribute to survey length. 

When combined with the insider tips we shared above, surveys become (and remain) a valuable tool for improving patient care and satisfaction.